It all started with me thinking, and still thinking, that my English is a disaster. Until now I have resisted destinations like England or America. It never occurred to me to spend a year abroad in England. When I think of England, I think of bad weather and even worse food.

It was simply out of the question. I like Italy or Thailand. Destinations like England seemed far too boring to me in general. But then I met Melissa. She is an au pair in our little town of Passau, Germany. I met her at a club one evening and we hit it off right away.

She is from London and we became friends immediately. In two months she goes back to London and I'll be on the plane with her. A year abroad in England was a no-brainer for her; she said I absolutely had to experience it. Really learning the language, earning money is no problem. According to her, you can always find something.

Packing the suitcases

I can already imagine myself working in a store somewhere. But at the start of my year abroad in England, the first priority is to work on the language. My parents are paying for the first few weeks, so I don't have to start working right away.

I can stay with Melissa's parents. They have a guest room free. It isn't meant to be a permanent solution during my year abroad in England. In any case, an inexpensive and easy start in a foreign country.

In the first week, Melissa wants to show me the most important things around town. We will surely be out and about together from morning to night. Her studies start two months later, so we still have plenty of time to spend together.

Year abroad in England


I have no idea whether it's my kind of country. Still, I'm jumping into my English adventure with joy. Nothing works in this world without English, and my D in English is really nothing to write home about. I have to admit, though, that I'm not exactly a quick or easy learner. Even so, I barely scraped through my Abitur (the German high school diploma) in the end.

A D in English is just embarrassing

By now my D in English is just embarrassing to me. I've puffed myself up a little on the outside already. Now I can tell everyone: "Hey, I'm doing a year abroad in England!"

On my own I would never have come up with this idea. I'm someone who believes in fate. Everything will clearly happen for a reason. And as for the weather, Melissa says that's just outdated. Climate change is making itself felt in England too, and there are more nice days than rainy ones.

I'm excited and now I'm packing my second suitcase. Unfortunately, a lot has to stay at home!